Slip back in time on your drive to Lili, our waterfront, private getaway on St. Helena Sound. The entrance to this private residence includes a half-mile drive along the Avenue of Oaks, listed on the National Register of Historic places. En route, you will pass the original, antebellum plantation home (circa1800), once the center of Coffin Point, a pre-Civil War cotton plantation. Your last right turn is home to a two-story private residence, the driveway alongside ancient, Live Oak trees. The home is bordered by native plantings of seasonal flowers on three sides with a spectacular view of the Sound, on the fourth. If the trees could speak, imagine the stories a hundred-year history might reveal. Indulge in the best of both worlds, the natural beauty of the intracoastal waterway with shrimp boats, sailboats, kayaks, dolphins, seagulls and pelican and more. The surrounding, densely wooded countryside alongside St. Helena Sound provides a stunning backdrop filled with the natural sounds of the coastal environment.
Inside the home, guests enjoy custom designed furnishings by the owners which includes an extensive renovations using master craftsmen and local artisans and the natural setting as guides.
Windows open to expansive, scenic views and ever remind guests of the exceptional natural beauty they are immersed.
The colors, textures and fibers of the decor mirror the calm yet dramatic lowcountry environment. The ceilings were raised to expose huge, wooden beams acquired from a local cotton mill. The comfy furnishings suggest the sea, land and sky in a soft, soothing color pallet. The copper counters in the galley kitchen were added for serious cooking and easy clean up. Ware is part of the design exposing its ever changing patina. The line between inside and out has been consciously blurred with plenty of open space inside and natural daylight with floor to ceiling windows in the great room, and more windows room by room revealing the natural life at the seashore that impact all five senses.
Coffin Point's beachfront is a natural seashore. It is manicured only by the ocean tides and its contents - twice daily. It's the real deal, rugged with tons of shells, chord grass and other hardy saltwater treated gifts. Teaming with sea life, this beach is not groomed for swimming but rather exploring, clamming, shelling, fishing and hiking. If you want to swim, pack up our beach towels, chairs & your water toys or rent a kayak, surf board ...and head to nearby Hunting Island State Park -an easy 10 minute drive.
At either beachfront, ours or the State Park, it is common to see and hear dolphin, working shrimp boats and a range of seabird action. What is truly wonderful about living by the sea, is experiencing the changes hour by hour, day by day, week by week.
While at home, you can enjoy both front or back covered patios; oversize deck chair seaside or rocking chairs forest side, or put on your walking, biking or jogging attire to explore the beachfront and dirt road network throughout the neighborhood.
Cooking is meant to be fun and easy in this home. All grocery needs can be satisfied within a 10-minute drive with neighboring fish markets, fishing marinas, fresh vegetable farms, grocery stores and quick stop markets.
Local restaurants and chefs offer catered services while a short drive, increases options to five-star cuisine in town as well as casual dinning at most local diners -- and most feature local seafood. Some have recipes passed down through the generations using ingredients from neighboring farms and docks.
Local favorites include Johnson Creek Tavern, Gullah Grub, Sand Dollar, Foolish Frog, Bella Luna and The Shrimp Shack (referenced in Pat Conroy’s cookbook.) Each with their own specialties and ambiance.
A wide variety of touring opportunities can be found throughout the region from art, history & culture to active sports, sight seeing or plain serious shopping & dinning.
For outdoor adventure we recommend Hunting Island State Park, a 10-minute drive away - where you will find five miles of swimming/surfing beachfront - without the traditional residential over-development. Miles of woodland & seaside biking and hiking. There is a minimal gate pass fee. Swimming, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and a variety of fishing gear can be coordinated at the Park's nature center – or in town, plus special & educational family activities are scheduled throughout the summer months right at the park.
Hunting Island has thousands of acres of gorgeous marsh views, tidal creeks, and a dense maritime forest. Here you will find excellent bird watcching and other wildlife and scenic natural views that is becoming rare along our developed coastlines.
Downtown Historic Beaufort is another popular destination - and less than 20 minute drive. Destinations include Port Royal - with it's own beachfront you can drive you car onto plus a boardwalk, Parris Island and the Marine Corp Air station and military bases welcome visitors to their museums with dining options...and a bit further and over a few more bridges you can reach Hilton Head Island, Charleston and Savannah in little over an hour for fun day trips.
Notable regional/seasonal events: Savannah Music Festival (March/Savannah) Heritage Golf Tournament (April/Hilton Head) Family Circle Tennis Cup (April/Daniel's Island) Soft Shell Crab Festival(Apr/Port Royal) Spoleto Festival (May-June /Charleston), Beaufort Water Festival (mid-July), Penn Center’s Heritage Festival (November/ St. Helena Is.), , and many local activities including ghost & home tours, Beaufort film festival (Feb/Mar) plus ever-present art gallery tours and community oyster roast fundraising fun in the winter.
Lili grounds allow for parking with room for your boat or RV. Several boat launches are only minutes away. Or, leave the toys and call on local, experienced guides. Join a boat or kayak tour, photo safari, dolphin watch, deep sea charter or sunset sail along the Intracoastal Waterway. Watch or participate in a regatta at the Lady’s Island Country Club, spin class at the YMCA or yoga class at One Yoga Sanctuary at Lady's Island Marina.
Keywords: Coastal elegance, lovingly titled (Lili) - you are invited to the comforts of town while vacationing in an elegant, private waterfront, rural community. Live Oak forest road and walk ways, natural beachfront, lush plantings, abundant wildlife and minutes from State Park, national historic landmarks, regional and international curltural events.